Birmingham and Coventry National Union of Journalists

EDM 795: Defence of Public Interest and the Prosecution of Journalists
That this House recognises the need for journalists to pursue difficult stories in the public interest without fear of prosecution; is concerned about the situation facing journalists who have been arrested and charged in relation to charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office; believes that such charges, levied against individuals who had no role in the authorisation of payments nor responsibility for a workplace culture where such payments were institutionalised and where trade union recognition was not allowed, do nothing to tackle the real issue of corporate responsibility for any alleged wrongdoing; regrets that it is ordinary working journalists who are being targeted, whilst senior executives and the companies themselves escape blame; further regrets that to discount the public interest defence in bringing legal proceedings sets a very damaging precedent for the industry; and therefore calls on the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure that a consistent and fair approach is taken in regard to such cases.

Sponsors: Mitchell, Austin / McDonnell, John / Leech, John / Llwyd, Elfyn

<>  House of Commons: 26.11.2013

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Winter Deaths of Old Age Pensioners

Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of “excess winter deaths” in England and Wales rose by 29% compared with the previous year.

The majority of these deaths were among pensioners – with over-75s accounting for 25,600 winter-related deaths in 2012/13.

Early Day Motion 804: Excess Winter Deaths
That this House is ashamed and appalled by the massive increase in excess winter deaths last winter in England and Wales as detailed by the Office of National Statistics; notes that an estimated additional 31,100 people died, up 29 per cent over the previous year, most of these the frail and elderly; believes that these sad and unnecessary deaths were largely caused by cold and lack of heating, a consequence of this Government's austerity programme and the lack of regulation of the rapacious energy companies; contrasts this massive surge in fatalities with the ballooning profits of the big six energy companies, up 77 per cent in one year; and demands an emergency national insulation programme, a boost to the state pension, a nationally co-ordinated programme through local authorities to identify those most vulnerable to the cold, the immediate freezing of energy prices and a programme to bring energy supply into public ownership so that this avoidable tragedy is not repeated this winter and in the following years.

Primary sponsor: Galloway, George        <>  House of Commons: 26.11.2013

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